Device for detecting the intrusion of a body in a predetermined space

Abstract

The device comprises a transmitter (7) transmitting ultrasound into a predetermined space (5), a sensor (8) which senses the echoes from the transmission by the transmitter into the space in order to deliver a signal representative of the echoes, and electronic device for processing the signal in order to diagnose the possible presence of a moving body in the space (5). It further comprises a) device (10) for scanning the space (5) with the ultrasound beam output by the transmitter (7) and (b) device (11) for simultaneously moving the echo sensor (8) so as to optimize the signal/noise ratio of the output of the sensor (8).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for detecting movement within a defined interior space, the device comprising: a transmitter transmitting an ultrasound beam into a defined interior;   a sensor for sensing a reflection of the ultrasound beam and outputting an output signal representative of the reflected beam;   a processor connected to said sensor for processing the signal in order to detect movement in the interior space;   means for directing a transmitting direction of the ultrasound beam of said transmitter;   means for directing a sensing direction of said sensor for improving a signal to noise ratio of the output signal of said sensor, said means for directing the sensing direction formed to orient the sensing direction of said sensor in dependence of the transmitting direction, the dependence being adjusted to minimize an influence of strayed reflected beams on the signal output by said sensor; and   a direction detector for detecting the transmitting direction and the sensing direction, respectively, said direction detector being connected to said transmitter and said sensor for slaving the sensing direction according to the sensing direction.   
     
     
       2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said processor is connected to said means for directing the sensing direction and to said means for directing the transmitting direction for enhanced monitoring of at least one particular region of said interior space. 
     
     
       3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means for directing the transmitting direction moves said transmitter for directing the transmitting direction. 
     
     
       4. The device according to claims 1, wherein said means for directing the sensing direction moves said sensor for directing the sensing direction. 
     
     
       5. An automobile having a defined interior space, and the device according to claim 1 for detecting movement within the interior space of the automobile. 
     
     
       6. A device for detecting movement within a defined interior space, the device comprising: a transmitter transmitting an ultrasound beam into a defined interior;   a sensor for sensing a reflection of the ultrasound beam and outputting an output signal representative of the reflected beam;   a processor connected to said sensor for processing the signal in order to detect movement in the interior space;   means for directing a transmitting direction of the ultrasound beam of said transmitter;   means for directing a sensing direction of said sensor for improving a signal to noise ratio of the output signal of said sensor, said means for directing the sensing direction formed to orient the sensing direction of said sensor in dependence of the transmitting direction; and   a direction detector for detecting the transmitting direction and the sensing direction, respectively, said direction detector being connected to said transmitter and said sensor for slaving the sensing direction according to the sensing direction.   
     
     
       7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said processor is connected to said means for directing the sensing direction and to said means for directing the transmitting direction for enhanced monitoring of at least one particular region of said interior space. 
     
     
       8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said means for directing the transmitting direction moves said transmitter for directing the transmitting direction. 
     
     
       9. The device according to claims 6, wherein said means for directing the sensing direction moves said sensor for directing the sensing direction. 
     
     
       10. An automobile having a defined interior space, and the device according to claim 6 for detecting movement within the interior space of the automobile.